Come on then let's have it, whats your predictions for this weekends Premiership games involving the top four clubs?

Liverpool 1 - 0 Manchester Utd

(Kewell)

Arsenal 1 - 1 Chelsea

(Hleb, Drogba)

Well thats what I think! Well, it's what I hope anyway :hihi:

Hleb is injured, as is Drogba.

Better luck next time Paul!!

I reckon Liverpool 0 United 2
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Hleb is injured, as is Drogba.

Better luck next time Paul!!

I reckon Liverpool 0 United 2
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Excellent! Yes both hleb and drogba out but persie may be on the bench and flamini back too.
Heart says Utd but after last night's high I think liverpool will edge it.- one nil or 2-1.
Hoping for chelsea but as long as arsenal dont win, that ll be a result. Go for 1-1.
Some performance by liverpool last night btw. I was very impressed although I always thought that they d win but the scale and style was a surprise. Caught a glimpse of two of rafa's smug grin. Bet he's still wearing it when he meets the Yanks on friday!

man u and arsenal to win.

Hleb is injured, as is Drogba.

Better luck next time Paul!!

I reckon Liverpool 0 United 2
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1

Oh well, it's my own fault. Should have revised the facts before I predicted!

The results I predicted still stand though however, Chelsea without Drogba may see them struggle to score!

Caught a glimpse of two of rafa's smug grin. Bet he's still wearing it when he meets the Yanks on friday!
You can bet the grin will be much wider if Liverpool manage to take three points on Sunday!

After all the stick Rafa has taken this season (and the previous three) to be level with Utd in the premiership and through to the knockout stages of the Champions League would certainly see many football fans and pundits alike eating a fair slice of humble pie :D

I am psyched about Sunday. Under Rafa we've not yet beaten the mancs in the league and this will be the match where we break that duck. It'll be a big psychological boost for us and will be the turning point of our season. Player for player we're as good as they are and at Anfield we'll turn them over. Come on redmen!

I am psyched about Sunday. Under Rafa we've not yet beaten the mancs in the league and this will be the match where we break that duck. It'll be a big psychological boost for us and will be the turning point of our season. Player for player we're as good as they are and at Anfield we'll turn them over. Come on redmen!

As long as you scousers actually believe that man for man you are our equal, then the gap will continue to exist.
Unfortunately, one man who I think doesnt believe you are is Rafa Benitez. Hence his many rows with your Yank owners....

As long as you scousers actually believe that man for man you are our equal, then the gap will continue to exist.
Liverpool have just as many 'star performers' as Utd have!
Maybe the other Utd players are just more consistent? Utd may have the the best starting 11 but regarding the squad as a whole, I think Liverpool take that!

Rafa is wanting more funds to improve the team (as all managers want to do) but that isn't the main factor in his disagreement with the Yanks!
The permanent signing of Mascherano for £17m is the main factor!

pmsl,cant believe both your goalscorers are injured LFC,and heres me thinking you knew summat about footy!!!

Liverpool 1-1 Man Utd

Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

Rafa is wanting more funds to improve the team (as all managers want to do) but that isn't the main factor in his disagreement with the Yanks!
The permanent signing of Mascherano for £17m is the main factor!

The main factor is that Rafa thinks he's the guy in charge, and he's going to get a VERY rude awakening.

Liverpool 1 - 2 Man Utd

Have to check the weather forcast for the Emirates, will Arsenal need their gloves on.....


Yes, they will, that should be enough to allow Chelsea a point.

Arsenal 0 - Chelsea 0

one thing i dont get is every season there seems to be a super sunday were the big 4 play each other.. statistically that shouldnt happen. makes me wonder about the randomness of the fixture list...

The main factor is that Rafa thinks he's the guy in charge, and he's going to get a VERY rude awakening.
Do you think Rafa will get the sack then Heyesey? or just that he won't be given the funds for Mascherano etc?

I don't think he will be sacked at all. I also think he will be given the funds to sign Mascherano! Any other signings Rafa wants to make will probably have to be funded by the sale of current players; Sissoko, Crouch etc.

You can bet the grin will be much wider if Liverpool manage to take three points on Sunday!

After all the stick Rafa has taken this season (and the previous three) to be level with Utd in the premiership and through to the knockout stages of the Champions League would certainly see many football fans and pundits alike eating a fair slice of humble pie :D

Agreed. I m actually warming to rafa a lot now and I hope he wins the current tussle with his owners though look at what happened to mourinho.
My respect does not extend to hoping he wins on sunday though I think he will!
mascherano is a must buy. he s been excellent so far in red.

There was an interesting chat on talksport i listened to yesterday while driving back form work aout whether you d take rooney or torres. Obviously I m biased but I was amazed at how many callers preferred torres. Surprised me no end that! Maybe they were all secret pool fand though they were all saying Im neutral etc etc. The fact that rooney is two footed wins it for me easily though it helps when one of them isnt repeatedly broken!

There was an interesting chat on talksport i listened to yesterday while driving back form work aout whether you d take rooney or torres. Obviously I m biased but I was amazed at how many callers preferred torres. Surprised me no end that! Maybe they were all secret pool fand though they were all saying Im neutral etc etc. The fact that rooney is two footed wins it for me easily though it helps when one of them isnt repeatedly broken!
Torres or Rooney. It's a tough call. They are both excellant players who have their own better defining qualities. Rooney is probably the better link up player whilst Torres is probably the more dynamic player that is more likely to create something out of nothing. Torres is also the quicker of the two and they both work extremely hard for their team!
I think Torres however has the potential to get much better with experience in our league. Rooney knows the premiership and has been brought up with the English way of playing football whereas Torres is only a few months into his Liverpool career. Torres, once he has adjusted totally, has the potential to be absolutely mindblowing and for that reason i'd go for Torres as the player that I would rather have in my team over Rooney ..... just!

Thats a real suprise!

The reality is, you need Torres far more than United need Rooney!

Thats a real suprise!

The reality is, you need Torres far more than United need Rooney!
The reality is Guderian, Utd need Ronaldo more than any of the other mentioned players! Without him Utd wouldn't be nearly as strong!

Maybe Utd don't need Rooney because he's not all he's cracked up?

Torres would walk into the Utd side!

It pains me to say this but i would take judas over torres. he is more likely to create something out of nothing, be it an assist or goal!

and torres wouldnt walk into the utd side. they are better man for man and i hate both the clubs..

and torres wouldnt walk into the utd side. they are better man for man and i hate both the clubs..
Depends which positions you are talking about Preach!

Reina is the better and younger goalkeeper.

Gerrard and Mascherano is a better central midfield pairing than any Utd have.

A fit Harry Kewell (who is playing well at the moment) is as good if not better than a now past it Giggs or Nani.

Torres would walk into the Utd side!

guds can argue this point but kewell isnt a patch on giggs.

gerrard may be the best central midfielder but utd have a far better midfield.

and who would man u drop, tevez or rooney?

and who would man u drop, tevez or rooney?
Nobody can deny the fact that Torres has been better than Tevez so far this season! Tevez has also had an extra year in England to adjust to the premiership! You say Utd have a better midfield than Liverpool and that Utd are better man for man which should help Tevez excell in the Utd team but yet Torres has been by far the better performer out of the two! It is also arguable that Torres is the better player out of him and Rooney. Like the guy in the post earlier admitted... on a phone-in poll of random/nuetral listeners regarding who people would prefer in their team, Torres was the player who came out on top. So it's not just me that thinks it either!

Liverpool are inferior at the back and in midfield to United, and have no one with Rooneys fantasy to link midfield with the strikeforce.

As for Tevez and Torres, arent they both on 6 goals?

Depends which positions you are talking about Preach!

Reina is the better and younger goalkeeper.

Gerrard and Mascherano is a better central midfield pairing than any Utd have.

A fit Harry Kewell (who is playing well at the moment) is as good if not better than a now past it Giggs or Nani.

Torres would walk into the Utd side!

Staggered how you can so easily say that Gerrard and Masherano are better than any pairing Utd have. Good players, but a bit too plodding for me. Not much invention with the passing there, and not overly high on technique.
I watch Liverpool, and you are dull. Your midfield just doesnt have any flair, with the possible exception of Kewell, whom I rate.

Nobody can deny the fact that Torres has been better than Tevez so far this season! Tevez has also had an extra year in England to adjust to the premiership!


You mean, for the Premiership to adjust to him. They've seen his tricks, they should be ready for them now.

How the hell can they have seen Torres tricks,hes only been here a few months and hasnt started every prem game
The premiership doesnt adjust to nobody,the players dont adjust to nobody,the players adjust to premiership football which is fast and hard and totally unlike any other league in the world

You mean, for the Premiership to adjust to him. They've seen his tricks, they should be ready for them now.

Agree, with a lot of imports the 2nd season is the hardest.

You mean, for the Premiership to adjust to him. They've seen his tricks, they should be ready for them now.
If that is the case Heyesey, all the players with any flair would be nullified after their initial first stint in the premiership! No, a player coming from abroad needs time to adjust to the English game. Once he has done that, you then usually start to see the best of them. Ronaldo and Drogba are two good examples of this!

Plus, Torres isn't just about tricks (he isn't really a trickery kind of player) it's more to do with his raw pace and movement and his ability to get himself into the right positions. Torres is much more than just a step over kind of player in my opinion!

How the hell can they have seen Torres tricks,hes only been here a few months and hasnt started every prem game

Try learning to read?

Staggered how you can so easily say that Gerrard and Masherano are better than any pairing Utd have. Good players, but a bit too plodding for me. Not much invention with the passing there, and not overly high on technique.
I watch Liverpool, and you are dull. Your midfield just doesnt have any flair, with the possible exception of Kewell, whom I rate.
You can add Alonso to your list of players with flair and invention then can you? Along with Benayoun who often shows flashes of brilliance. Babel is also a great talent who is coming on leaps and bounds lately and will be a great player in the future. Lucas also (Brazilian player of the year) looks like a player who will slot in nicely for years to come.

I'm not saying Liverpool are better or have the more creative players. It's obvious that in full flow Man Utd are awesome but in my opinion, if you take Ronaldo out of your midfield it seriously depletes it from a creative/flair perspective!

You say Liverpool have an inferior defence? Well I would agree that we need extra cover yes, but the statistics don't support your theory. And before you say the reason Liverpool have conceded less goals is because they play more defensive, Liverpools goalscoring record this season (in all competitions) would contradict that theory also.

Crap,got that one wrong....just read it wiv mi glasses on
Points valid tho lol

You can add Alonso to your list of players with flair and invention then can you? Along with Benayoun who often shows flashes of brilliance. Babel is also a great talent who is coming on leaps and bounds lately and will be a great player in the future. Lucas also (Brazilian player of the year) looks like a player who will slot in nicely for years to come.

I'm not saying Liverpool are better or have the more creative players. It's obvious that in full flow Man Utd are awesome but in my opinion, if you take Ronaldo out of your midfield it seriously depletes it from a creative/flair perspective!

You say Liverpool have an inferior defence? Well I would agree that we need extra cover yes, but the statistics don't support your theory. And before you say the reason Liverpool have conceded less goals is because they play more defensive, Liverpools goalscoring record this season (in all competitions) would contradict that theory also.


Liverpool have conceded more goals. 9 in the League, 5 in Champions League group stage. United 8 and 4.

Liverpool have conceded more goals. 9 in the League, 5 in Champions League group stage. United 8 and 4.
So you would agree that Liverpools defence has hardly been 'inferior'?
As for Tevez and Torres, arent they both on 6 goals?
Torres has 12 goals in 19 games this year, more than any other centre-forward in the country.

It is inferior. You stated it had conceded less goals.

And you play more defensively than United. You have scored less in the Premiership than Utd.
Your Euro record is only higher due to playing pub teams in your group.

It is inferior. You stated it had conceded less goals..
I stated no such thing! I said that the stats don't support your theory, which they don't. 1 goal can not be classed as inferior!

And you play more defensively than United. You have scored less in the Premiership than Utd.
Liverpool have scored a massive 2 goals less than Utd. Upto only 2 weeks ago Liverpool had actually scored more league goals than Utd.

14-12 = 2 Paul, not 1.

You stated:

You say Liverpool have an inferior defence? Well I would agree that we need extra cover yes, but the statistics don't support your theory

They do.

14-12 = 2 Paul, not 1..
I was talking about the defensive record Guddie, which is 1 goal difference.

Anyway, we can talk about goals scored/conceded all day long, the fact is, there is not a great deal of difference in either!

Both teams have star quality within and both teams are playing well at the moment. It all adds up to a great game. When that happens it usually turns out to be a 0 - 0 draw :D

I was talking about the defensive record Guddie, which is 1 goal difference.

Anyway, we can talk about goals scored/conceded all day long, the fact is, there is not a great deal of difference in either!

Both teams have star quality within and both teams are playing well at the moment. It all adds up to a great game. When that happens it usually turns out to be a 0 - 0 draw :D

Maybe, but you have conceded 14 in Prem and C League. We have conceded 12.

Maybe, but you have conceded 14 in Prem and C League. We have conceded 12.
Oh I see. So in your eyes then the Champions League only counts when calculating goals conceded but when calculating goals scored it doesn't? :hihi:

Ok Guddie have it your way. I won't use the fact that Liverpool have scored quite a few more goals than Utd in all competitions, but you can use the facts when argueing the toss regarding goals conceded ok? About right for you that mate :rolleyes:

guds can argue this point but kewell isnt a patch on giggs.

gerrard may be the best central midfielder but utd have a far better midfield.

and who would man u drop, tevez or rooney?

One point that can't be argued is central midfield. Liverpools, with the choice of Gerrard, Lucas, Mascherano or Alonso pi55es all over the mancs. Anderson may be looking good, but he still has to prove himself. Scholes is excellent, but getting old. Carrick is pants. Same price for him and Mascherano? Think we had the better deal there!

Mancs will shade it on wide midfield - although not better than Giggs at his prime, a fit Kewell is a match for today's ageing giggs.

Nani looks like a dissapointmentm whereas Babel is coming on leaps and bounds.

Liverpool will do better than Man Utd in Europe because they have a manager who understands European football more than Ferguson does
Man Utd will do better than Liverpool in the Premiership because they have a manager who understands English football more than Benitez does (and doesnt rotate as much as Benitez does)

It is inferior. You stated it had conceded less goals.

And you play more defensively than United. You have scored less in the Premiership than Utd.
Your Euro record is only higher due to playing pub teams in your group.

29 goals you've scored, 27 for us. not a great difference! Not enough, surely to see were a 'plodding defensive team'??? And we have a game in hand. That difference should be addressed come sunday ;-)

Liverpool will do better than Man Utd in Europe because they have a manager who understands European football more than Ferguson does
Man Utd will do better than Liverpool in the Premiership because they have a manager who understands English football more than Benitez does (and doesnt rotate as much as Benitez does)

Untrue. A myth propagated by clowns in the media. In the past few seasons Benitez has made only a few more changes than Ferguson of Mourinho.

One point that can't be argued is central midfield. Liverpools, with the choice of Gerrard, Lucas, Mascherano or Alonso pi55es all over the mancs. Anderson may be looking good, but he still has to prove himself. Scholes is excellent, but getting old. Carrick is pants. Same price for him and Mascherano? Think we had the better deal there!

Mancs will shade it on wide midfield - although not better than Giggs at his prime, a fit Kewell is a match for today's ageing giggs.

Nani looks like a dissapointmentm whereas Babel is coming on leaps and bounds.

Ronaldo????????

Your midfield is not creative. It lacks something, and has done for a while.

Its probably because the ball is sailing over it most of the time...

Ronaldo????????

Your midfield is not creative. It lacks something, and has done for a while.

Its probably because the ball is sailing over it most of the time...

Ronaldo is why I said you would shade it on midfield.

I think the only thing lacking creativity is your argument - "sailing over the mifield", blah blah. If you ever watched liverpool, you would see that this patently isn't the case.

Liverpool will do better than Man Utd in Europe because they have a manager who understands European football more than Ferguson does
Man Utd will do better than Liverpool in the Premiership because they have a manager who understands English football more than Benitez does (and doesnt rotate as much as Benitez does)

"in the league last season, Liverpool won their most points, on average, when Rafa made three changes. And I'd also pointed out that Liverpool made the same amount of Premier League changes as Manchester United last season (118, at just over three per game), which was also the exact same amount made by Chelsea the year before.

And unlike all the media hacks, I had also previously pointed out that, when it comes to Alex Ferguson supposedly never rotating his main men while Rafa always tinkers with his, the fact was that Gerrard, Reina and Carragher all started more league games than any Man United player."

Good news for Pool fans.

Your tormentor in chief, John O'Shea, is out of Sundays game!

Good news for Pool fans.

Your tormentor in chief, John O'Shea, is out of Sundays game!

A liverpool fan - he probably couldn't take scoring against us again!

Forlan, O'Shea, Carragher brace.

The list of United scorers at Anfield in recent years still gives me a chuckle...

Forlan, O'Shea, Carragher brace.

The list of United scorers at Anfield in recent years still gives me a chuckle...

So does some of your midfield roster :)

Forlan, O'Shea, Carragher brace.

The list of United scorers at Anfield in recent years still gives me a chuckle...

It's a shame that we don't still have the "manc buster" Danny Murphy. Three Old Trafford winners in four seasons. I miss him.

Whilst Murphy was scoring against us, I had to make do with winning titles.

Couple of boring draws???

Whilst Murphy was scoring against us, I had to make do with winning titles.

Touche!

I actually do volunteer work in Manchester on basic numeracy skills. I've found that many of the locals can only count up to two, but I've been teaching them how to count up to five. :D

Whilst Murphy was scoring against us, I had to make do with winning titles.
It's not all about you Guddie :rolleyes:
And you say Liverpool fans go on about history :D

Touche!

I actually do volunteer work in Manchester on basic numeracy skills. I've found that many of the locals can only count up to two, but I've been teaching them how to count up to five. :D

Can they subtract 1990 from 2007???

The reality is Guderian, Utd need Ronaldo more than any of the other mentioned players! Without him Utd wouldn't be nearly as strong!

Maybe Utd don't need Rooney because he's not all he's cracked up?

Torres would walk into the Utd side!

Would have to agree. Utd have been after Torres for a while but presumably baulked at the price. He has been mint and would wlak into Utd's team. Or anyone else for that matter.

The Midfields I think are probably well balanced for sunday. Last year Liverpool dominated the midfield in this fixture. I think a key will be whether Hargreaves(still not fully fit?) plays or Carrick. Utd need to break up liverpool possession and Hargreaves can do that. Given that giggs will be playing , Utd will be starting with 10 men. Or maybe 10.5 if I m fair. He has been poor this season and seems to be picked only to break Charlton's record. Id play Nani instead. And Anderson must start.
Havnt seen enough of Liverpool to pick their best midfield. If the real stevie G turns up we're in trouble but he does go missing a lot. Here's hoping.

And who called Rooney "Judas"? Idiot! Presumably no players have ever left lesser clubs to move to everton then?

Can they subtract 1990 from 2007???

Nice one!!!

Can they subtract 1990 from 2007???

No, but they can tell the difference between 18 and 16, and 5 and 2.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/543368.stm

Would have to agree. Utd have been after Torres for a while but presumably baulked at the price. He has been mint and would wlak into Utd's team. Or anyone else for that matter.

The Midfields I think are probably well balanced for sunday. Last year Liverpool dominated the midfield in this fixture. I think a key will be whether Hargreaves(still not fully fit?) plays or Carrick. Utd need to break up liverpool possession and Hargreaves can do that. Given that giggs will be playing , Utd will be starting with 10 men. Or maybe 10.5 if I m fair. He has been poor this season and seems to be picked only to break Charlton's record. Id play Nani instead. And Anderson must start.
Havnt seen enough of Liverpool to pick their best midfield. If the real stevie G turns up we're in trouble but he does go missing a lot. Here's hoping.

And who called Rooney "Judas"? Idiot! Presumably no players have ever left lesser clubs to move to everton then?

What a load of rubbish! Giggs half a player indeed....
Nani is nowhere near ready. Needs to bulk up.

And who called Rooney "Judas"? Idiot! Presumably no players have ever left lesser clubs to move to everton then?

that was me you nob. if you cant tell when something is tongue in cheek then go home!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/543368.stm

I'm assuming that is posted with a healthy dose of irony?? :D

The Midfields I think are probably well balanced for sunday. Last year Liverpool dominated the midfield in this fixture. I think a key will be whether Hargreaves(still not fully fit?) plays or Carrick. Utd need to break up liverpool possession and Hargreaves can do that. Given that giggs will be playing , Utd will be starting with 10 men. Or maybe 10.5 if I m fair. He has been poor this season and seems to be picked only to break Charlton's record. Id play Nani instead. And Anderson must start.
Havnt seen enough of Liverpool to pick their best midfield. If the real stevie G turns up we're in trouble but he does go missing a lot. Here's hoping.
http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=69445
Dubious source I know but it all adds to the fun of the build-up mate doesn't it :D

I'm assuming that is posted with a healthy dose of irony?? :D

In a way. Still something you never achieved in your 5 attempts.

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=69445
Dubious source I know but it all adds to the fun of the build-up mate doesn't it :D

Thats fine. Fletcher and Carrick will do for me. :gag:

that was me you nob. if you cant tell when something is tongue in cheek then go home!

nob? as in chocolate hobnob presumably?
if it was tongue in cheek then fair enough, i apologise. but enough of you everton fans have been small-minded and bitter at rooney moving. Death threats etc. in fact, you might call them nobs, chocolate or penile, you take yer pick.

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=69445
Dubious source I know but it all adds to the fun of the build-up mate doesn't it :D

Oh no! that had better be wrong!!!

What a load of rubbish! Giggs half a player indeed....
Nani is nowhere near ready. Needs to bulk up.

Herr PKW Fuhrer, I am a big Giggs fan; he is a legend and most Utd fans will not realise it til he retires. But his performances have been poor of late and in a big game at anfield, i just cant see him being netter than nani who has been brilliant do far and fergie has been forced to play both him and anderson (both were hardly going to play this season remember) agree he needs to bulk up a bit like ronaldo has.
I just get the feel sometimes that Giggs is being carried by the team as he nears charltons record. I hope that you can laugh at me on sunday but lets see.
In a way i m glad scholes is out. I cant remember him ever playing well at anfield and his temper gets the better of him.

In a way. Still something you never achieved in your 5 attempts.

I'll take the 5, over your 2 + "world cup".

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=69445
Dubious source I know but it all adds to the fun of the build-up mate doesn't it :D

I say! Doubt it though. Tribal football is a load of toss.

i just cant see him being netter than nani who has been brilliant do far and fergie has been forced to play both him and anderson

Don't rate Nani so far. very hit and miss. Giggs is more dangerous.

In a way i m glad scholes is out. I cant remember him ever playing well at anfield and his temper gets the better of him

Scholes is the only Manc I can respect! Quality player, good chap. Glad he's not playing.

Don't rate Nani so far. very hit and miss. Giggs is more dangerous.

Giggs is more miss than hit these days unfortunately.

Scholes is the only Manc I can respect! Quality player, good chap. Glad he's not playing.

He is indeed quality but I just cant remember him performing at anfield- i may be wrong. and his inability to tackle often costs us. I m not saying I d be sad to see him play but i think we have good players for sunday who may do better.
Scholes return was one of the reasons we won the title last year and I m not decrying him!!

Just noticed on the Utd website - Hargreaves available for Sun.
Everyone fit. Even O'Shea :roll:

Liverpool 0 - 2 Man Utd
Arsenal 2 -0 Chelsea

I think.

Liverpool 2 - 2 Man Utd

Arsenal 1 - 0 Chelsea

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/14/ufnfergtorres114.xml
Some very interesting points that Fergie makes here:

Just watching on Sky Sports an interview with Fergie. He is saying how he can not believe the treatment Rafa has recieved since he came to Liverpool . Fergie states that Rafa has done an amazing job and is one of the worlds best managers!

Hmmm Interesting!

Still, people on here will still slate Rafa. They obviously know more than Fergie i suppose!

Here are some more of Fergie's comments from earlier today (Daily Mail):

Sir Alex Ferguson expects to see 11 lions and no lambs in his Manchester United side on Sunday for the match he regards as bigger than any other.

United make their annual visit to Liverpool knowing exactly what hostility awaits them as they enter the Anfield arena.

Sustained abuse from the Kop is not something Ferguson's team have had a problem combating down the years, given their impressive run of four wins and a draw in their previous five Premier League visits, culminating in last season's success, achieved by John O'Shea's injury-time winner after Paul Scholes had been sent off.

But the United manager is acutely aware if the Red Devils are to keep that run going, there must be no shrinking violets in his team.

"No matter what position the two clubs are in, this game is separate from anything else," he said.

"You have the geography, the history of the clubs, the ability of the players, the competition, the passion and fervour of the fans.

"We both look upon the other as our main rival.

"Liverpool's support is a big component of that club, particularly against United.

"You have to be a man to handle that atmosphere. If you are a lamb, you are dead."

Just noticed on the Utd website - Hargreaves available for Sun.
Everyone fit. Even O'Shea :roll:

Good! There can be no excuses then Guddie can there? :D

Good! There can be no excuses then Guddie can there? :D

The only way I think Benitez lets himself down is with the rotation. I think he should play his strongest side week in, week out in the Premiership.

Torres should be starting every game he is available.

Liverpool need to win the league above all else, I think more than the Champions League.

By the way, when was the last time a manager said that his rival was useless and didn't know what he was doing? Just a thought.

By the way, when was the last time a manager said that his rival was useless and didn't know what he was doing? Just a thought.
Were Fergies points valid NEKRO?

Surely it's Liverpool who have all the pressure. If they lose against Man Utd, they will be 9 points behind them, and perhaps 10 behind Arsenal.

Despite the improvements, Liverpool aren't really faring that much better in the league than last season. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7139276.stm)

The only way I think Benitez lets himself down is with the rotation. I think he should play his strongest side week in, week out in the Premiership.

Torres should be starting every game he is available.

Liverpool need to win the league above all else, I think more than the Champions League.

By the way, when was the last time a manager said that his rival was useless and didn't know what he was doing? Just a thought.

Oh for pete's sake, change the record. Rafa does NOT rotate more than any other top manager. Torres has played for EVERY game in the league he's been available apart from at home to Birmingham, which we should have won. Some may argue that Man U should have beaten Bolton without Ronaldo - so were was Fergie's grief for "Rotating" his side???

The core is always the same, barring injuries - Reina, Carra, Finnan, Agger, Gerrard, Torres. And I'd say that Kewell and Arbeloa are pretty solid choices too.

Bad result against a very very good United side!

Utd were rock solid in defence and had the cutting edge in attack.

I hate to do this but I have to hold my hands up and say, well played Utd!

It's difficult to work out why Liverpool struggle.
I thought they were out battled by Hargreaves and Anderson today.

well done man u thats my boyz unluck liverpool next time maybe hehe good game

I felt Liverpool were shocking today, they played like it was at Old Trafford. I fancied them to be up there come the end of the season, with a chance for the title, but that is obviously some way off still.

Please Rafa, ROTATE this team!
They are way adrift of the big 3.........

I was reading an article today that showed the selection statistics of 'the big four' clubs.

I'll see if I can find the link again, but it showed that Benitez does in fact rotate his squad more than Wenger, Ferguson and Mourinho (Avrim Grant wasn't included) and has named the same team 2 games running only 3 times during his whole spell in charge at Anfield.

Liverpool out of the title race if they don't take maximum points from their game in hand..?

Liverpool were awful on sunday,Gerrard was playing WAY too deep (like he does for England),he was tackling in his own box and picking up short balls from Reina,thats not his game.And why the hell take Kewell off and THEN put Crouch on,if you put Crouch on you need a winger to cross the ball for Crouch to latch on to.........ie: Kewell

Come on then let's have it, whats your predictions for this weekends Premiership games involving the top four clubs?

Glad you called this thread Premiership Sunday. Sky's been calling it "Grand Slam Sunday" which is absurd because it's nothing to do with a Grand Slam at all!

Bad result against a very very good United side!

Utd were rock solid in defence and had the cutting edge in attack.

I hate to do this but I have to hold my hands up and say, well played Utd!

Sorry mate, I disagree. Manchester Utd, or should I say Bolton-chester Utd, where just as bad as us. It was an awful game, a terrible hacking midfield dirge that neither team deserved to take more than 1 point from.

Torres was nowhere to be seen.
Ronaldo was a clown - I remember the Manc sitting infront of me in the pub hold his head in his hands as the portuguese wunder-kid tried to stepover his way past Sami, failing of course. Tevez and ROOOO-NEY where pretty anonymous, except for the one out of only 2 or 3 shots all game that got them their goal.
Kuyt was a disaster, Kewell was having a torrid time. The only player that looked like he could change the game was Babel, but by the time he came on, the Mancs where too well entrenched.

But then, who gives a monkeys about the details, eh? It's 3 points for the Mancs. 3 dropped for us. :(

Rafa must stay! Rafa must stay!

Lovely quote I saw:

"One of the least endearing aspects of Benitez's management is his apparent control freakery. In contrast to his Big Four peers, he prowls the touchline, directing operations, urging synchronised movement as if he does not trust his players to act by instinct"

I have often wondered if his players know what the hell he is on about...

Rafa must stay! Rafa must stay!

Lovely quote I saw:

"One of the least endearing aspects of Benitez's management is his apparent control freakery. In contrast to his Big Four peers, he prowls the touchline, directing operations, urging synchronised movement as if he does not trust his players to act by instinct"

I have often wondered if his players know what the hell he is on about...

Here's a lovely quote I saw from the same site -

"I'd have been gutted if Liverpool actually deserved to lose. They didn't. I had a wry chuckle as I saw United park the bus at Anfield-- swashbuckling United style my forelock!"

Keep kidding yourselves Pool.

I think your attentions should turn to the Blues.
No, not Chelsea -City and Everton!!

Leave the Big 3 to get on with the business in hand.
You have been ejected from the club.

Voronin and Kuyt have gone back to their jobs as painters and decorators.....

Keep kidding yourselves Pool.

I think your attentions should turn to the Blues.
No, not Chelsea -City and Everton!!

Leave the Big 3 to get on with the business in hand.
You have been ejected from the club.

Voronin and Kuyt have gone back to their jobs as painters and decorators.....

Well, at least if your team aren't swashbuckling any more, their fans certainly seem to be.

You fluked a victory, well done. I think you're getting a bit carried away though, considering the we're only at Christmas. There's a few more games to be played.

Not getting carried away at all. Think we have a real job on to catch Arsenal and hold off Chelsea.

Not getting carried away at all. Think we have a real job on to catch Arsenal and hold off Chelsea.

And I'm sure you do too. I was talking about the zest with which you've written off pool from the Big 4. I'd call that premature.

Well, at least if your team aren't swashbuckling any more, their fans certainly seem to be.

You fluked a victory, well done. I think you're getting a bit carried away though, considering the we're only at Christmas. There's a few more games to be played.

Fluked a victory?! which game were you watching?
Utd were well in control without themselves playing particularly well. Liverpool were frankly awful considering the hype pre-match and I think rafa has a right to expect more from his team.
As I said in an earlier post, Hargreaves and Anderson would be the key for Utd and indeed they were as were the centre-halves who were great. And yes, Giggs was again anonymous.
9 points will be hard to make up I think.
Game Over?

I don't think there were that many people outside of Liverpool who thought they would be title contenders this season. Nothing has changed really. Without Torres, your front line looks clumsy. You're not going to win the title with Torres and Gerrard alone.

The Liverpool v Man Utd game was far from great, but Man Utd deserved to win it. Both sides were poor, Liverpool particularly so. They didn't really look much of a threat going forward, and Gerrard was effectively neutralised by Anderson and Hargreaves.

It would have been nice for Liverpool to win, just to keep things more interesting at the top of the table.

I don't think there were that many people outside of Liverpool who thought they would be title contenders this season. Nothing has changed really. Without Torres, your front line looks clumsy. You're not going to win the title with Torres and Gerrard alone.

The Liverpool v Man Utd game was far from great, but Man Utd deserved to win it. Both sides were poor, Liverpool particularly so. They didn't really look much of a threat going forward, and Gerrard was effectively neutralised by Anderson and Hargreaves.

It would have been nice for Liverpool to win, just to keep things more interesting at the top of the table.

There are probably not as many people in Liverpool as you think who expect Liverpool to win the title this season. Rafa is still building a team, and now having finally got rid of Houllier's dead wood, we're beginning to see a better return.

We had no threat going forward, granted. Neither did the mancs. Don't see how you can say they deserved to win.

Fluked a victory?! which game were you watching?
Utd were well in control without themselves playing particularly well. Liverpool were frankly awful considering the hype pre-match and I think rafa has a right to expect more from his team.
As I said in an earlier post, Hargreaves and Anderson would be the key for Utd and indeed they were as were the centre-halves who were great. And yes, Giggs was again anonymous.
9 points will be hard to make up I think.
Game Over?

I was watching the game were Liverpool had 61% of play and were Liverpool had 20 shots on goal, and the mancs had 5.
Our fault we didn't do anything with this possession, but hardly a game 'controlled' by the Mancs.

Yes, we were awful, but so were the mancs.

If we win our game in hand, which has become vital, then we'll be one point behind Chelsea, and 6 behind you lot, so not the complete end of the world, yet.

man u and arsenal to win.

Well done Preacher man seems like you got it spot on.

How will next Sunday go?

Just heard that the plans for the new Anfield have been downgraded.
Perhaps the board have accepted they are now on a par with City and Everton.

Just heard that the plans for the new Anfield have been downgraded.
Perhaps the board have accepted they are now on a par with City and Everton.

The capacity will still be 70,000, with room to increase when necessary, but I think they are just going to make the stadium a little less fancy on the outside. Which is a shame, as I thought the plans looked good.

The capacity will still be 70,000, with room to increase when necessary, but I think they are just going to make the stadium a little less fancy on the outside. Which is a shame, as I thought the plans looked good.

That's pretty much what I've heard. A shame, as you say, as it was pretty different from the usual stadium designs you see. Ah well :(

But 70,000 is pretty good, which i think is a bit more than the original designs.

10 points behind Arsenal, new stadium downgraded, Transfer Embargo imposed.

LONG LIVE THE RAFALUTION.

10 points behind Arsenal, new stadium downgraded, Transfer Embargo imposed.

LONG LIVE THE RAFALUTION.
I bet you were one of the Utd supporters that held up banners at Old Trafford stating "Get Fergie Out" when he was only 3 -4 years into his Manchester Utd reign?

If Liverpool win their game in hand then seven points will be the defecit. Not brilliant I will admit, but not the end of Liverpool's season!

If Liverpool's new stadium is downgraded but is still 70'000 capacity, then so what? It's about putting bums on seats to bring in extra revenue, not about having the best, most attractive stadium in the land and if it saves Liverpool £100m + in the proccess then so be it!


Transfer Embargo imposed - You make it sound like this is Rafa's fault? When a team is in the proccess of building a new stadium (which costs xxx amount of millions) transfer funds are usually put on the back-burner for a while, just like Arsenal's were!

Stop the wind-ups Guddy, it's all you ever seem to do!

Utd won at the weekend, well done to them. No need for the constant Liverpool put-downs and the constant anti-Rafa posts, it's getting boring!

Humiliated in the League Cup.

Liverpool MARCH ON.

Humiliated in the League Cup.

Liverpool MARCH ON.
:hihi: Yet another great, well constructed post Guddie! :rolleyes:
Liverpool's second string were hardly humiliated. Up untill Lampards ballooned effort somehow left the stadium only to come back down into the Liverpool net, they were more than holding their own. The sending off of Crouch then ended the game as a contest!

This is Chelsea we are talking about aswell Guddie. Who was it that 'humiliated' Utd in this competition way back when?

Coventry. And they deserved it.

Carling Cup has never, and will never bother me.
It disgusts me that Liverpool and Chelsea put out so many first teamers.
Wenger has the right idea.

Isn't it round about this time of year that Liverpool have their "End Of Season" party?

Coventry. And they deserved it.

Carling Cup has never, and will never bother me.
It disgusts me that Liverpool and Chelsea put out so many first teamers.
Wenger has the right idea.
Why does it disgust you? Because another team actually wants to win the competition whereas Utd don't? For your information, Liverpool have played plenty of youths during the run in the Carling Cup. Last night Liverpool played virtually their second team mixed with a few youth players and more than held their own against a full strength Chelsea side!

Wenger has the right idea because his youths are cabable of actually winning the tournament, as they have proved consistently over the years. Utd's youths however are not, as they have consistently proved over the years!

Isn't it round about this time of year that Liverpool have their "End Of Season" party?

Isn't it about time you took your tablets?

Humiliated in the League Cup.

Liverpool MARCH ON.
You are becoming obsessed Guderian:

Rafa must stay! Rafa must stay!

I have often wondered if his players know what the hell he is on about...
Please Rafa, ROTATE this team!
They are way adrift of the big 3.........
As long as you scousers actually believe that man for man you are our equal, then the gap will continue to exist.
Unfortunately, one man who I think doesnt believe you are is Rafa Benitez. Hence his many rows with your Yank owners....
Rafa must stay!
Rafa must stay!
Rafa must stay!
Rafa must stay!

Loving your work Rafa!! :hihi:
Rafa Benitez will NEVER win the English title.
I would stake my life on that.

Continued........

Two defeats in a row.

RAFA OUT!
Rafa strikes again!!
I have a sneaky feeling that normal balance will be restored on Sat as they drop points at Pompey, with baffling Rafa team selections the order of the day.
I would rather die than support a team managed by Rafa.
Entertaining football???

This is why Real would NEVER swoop for Rafa.

Your getting quite a thing for Rafa.

Guderian - The Rafa Masturbator!

You really want me to piece all your United/Ronaldo comments together??
I would be here all day.

You really want me to piece all your United/Ronaldo comments together??
I would be here all day.
I have consistently said good and bad things regarding Ronaldo and Manchester United!

Can you say the same about Benitez and Liverpool?

Just heard that the plans for the new Anfield have been downgraded.
Perhaps the board have accepted they are now on a par with City and Everton.
You don't mean Birmingham City, do you? :hihi::hihi::hihi:

You don't mean Birmingham City, do you? :hihi::hihi::hihi:
No I think he meant Manchester City, the proper Manchester club!

No I think he meant Manchester City, the proper Manchester club!

Owned by a Thai, managed by a Swede, and fewer Manchester-based season ticket holders than Man Utd.

Owned by a Thai, managed by a Swede, and fewer Manchester-based season ticket holders than Man Utd.
And actually based in Manchester!

Utd - Owned by Americans, managed by a Scot and have more foriegn based supporters than any other club in the Prem :D

By the way Agent, it was said tongue in cheek. Just having a bit of banter with Firecracker thats all :huh: